Search Results for: green

August 1, 2014

NYC Events 8/1: Neon in Chinatown; A Convergence of Art, Music and Technology

Happy August! Celebrate the new month with all the fine art that New York has to offer. Tonight you can hit up a historic artist residence in the West Village, immerse yourself in edgy urban art in Williamsburg, and then party in a wild world of neon in Chinatown for a full-on New York art experience. Once you recover from all your Friday folly, start your weekend by taking pictures around the new Arles del Rio sculptures in Times Square. After that, head to Brooklyn for the opening reception and party for Justice, a new project by a roster of incredible women. Then wrap up next week with Clouds in a Cloudless Sky, an installation event where art, music and technology converge.
All the best events here
July 31, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Chelsea Market May Get an Extension; United Charities Building Could Fetch $128M

Chelsea Market may expand with a 330,000-square-foot addition. New renderings see the brick structure topped off with a block of glass and steel. [Curbed] The city’s Economic Development Corporation will begin installing greenery and seating in Downtown Brooklyn’s Fox Square. The project kicks off in August and will take 6 months to complete. [CO] Queens Borough President Melinda Katz […]

July 31, 2014

A Suburban Enclave in Manhattan: Peeking Into Battery Park City

As New Yorkers, we learn to be resourceful. We can turn a tiny patch of grass into a full-on park, double the space of our 400-square-foot apartment with lofted rooms and suspended shelving, and get all of our reading in on the commute to work. But for some, this sacrificial lifestyle becomes too much, and daydreams of suburbia set in. Not ready to pack your bags for Jersey or Westchester just yet? Look to Battery Park City, a suburban-like enclave that's just a five-minute walk from Wall Street. The 92-acre planned residential community is the largest "green" neighborhood in the world, with more than one third of its total acreage covered in parks and gardens. Additionally, the area boasts spectacular waterfront views, large apartments, slightly more affordable prices than its Financial District neighbors, and an impressive collection of public art.
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July 28, 2014

William Pedersen of KPF Strives to Design the Perfect Chair with Loop de Loop

If the name William Pedersen sounds familiar, it should. The 76-year-old architect is a founder and partner of Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), the powerhouse architecture firm behind massive building projects like One Vanderbilt and the cluster of 16 skyscrapers coming to the Hudson Yards. Though Pedersen has made a name for himself changing international skylines with his monumental structures, to our surprise, he also dabbles in industrial design. This year, Pedersen staffed his own booth at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair and presented, for the first time, his new furniture collection called Loop de Loop. The series features a set of incredible chairs made with dramatically curved carbon-steel forms that resemble the forward movement of a body in motion.
Learn more about the design
July 25, 2014

Grzywinski + Pons’ Dutchess House No. 1 is an Aluminum-Clad Country Retreat

There are no cedar shakes or white picket fences at this country abode in Millerton, New York. At Dutchess House No. 1, the architectural firm Grzywinski + Pons met their client's needs for an upstate retreat with a strikingly modern yet traditionally functional design, incorporating sustainable elements, rustic details, and clever security features. The most unexpected element of the home is its aluminum-clad façade, playfully sculpted to resemble the surface of bricks. Contrasting the shimmery panels are Ipe wood screens and bright yellow doors, both of which connect to the surrounding landscape.
There are a lot more surprises in this home that you won't want to miss
July 25, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Google Maps for Liberty and Ellis Islands; Lyft Launches Tonight

A New Look at Liberty Island: On Wednesday, the New York Times followed a Google team as they documented the island with their 40-pound Google Trekker. You can see fun photos of the jaunt on their site. A Bronx Renaissance: Untapped Cities highlights the five most important projects in the pipeline for NYC’s northernmost borough. Celebs Love the Lowline: James Ramsey […]

July 24, 2014

Preservationists Publish Report Asking City to Better Protect Soon-To-Be-Landmarked Buildings

It's not always as easy as one might think to successfully advocate for the landmark designation of an historic building in New York, especially when that building's owner is not on board with preservation efforts. According to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP), more than 20 historically significant buildings (including those designed by renowned architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Morris Lapidus) have been heavily altered or altogether demolished over the past 12 years after city officials gave word to owners that their buildings were under consideration for landmarking. This comes from a new report that GVSHP commissioned, which examines the Bloomberg administration's actions regarding the notification given to developers and owners that the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) was looking at their properties, allowing alteration and demolition permits to slip through before any historic protections were granted.
We take a closer look at this preservation predicament
July 23, 2014

INTERVIEW: Renowned Architect Piet Boon on Bringing Dutch Design to NYC

Architect Piet Boon may hail from the Netherlands, but his status as a NYC starchitect is on the rise. Piet, who started his career as a builder, has over the years turned his practice to architecture and interiors, and today is a top choice amongst developers who want more than just a glass tower, but a building that promotes well-being through great design (oh-so-very Dutch). Piet recently sat down with us for an interview where he discussed everything from the differences he sees in Dutch and American design sensibilities, to his high profile Huys Penthouses project (which is almost sold out), to his new Oosten development for Williamsburg, to his definitively international style, which to our surprise he refers to as "barefoot chic."
Read our interview with Piet here
July 23, 2014

You Won’t Have to Compromise with This Spectacular $18M Prewar Pad

They say purchasing a home means you have to compromise. Surely you can’t have everything you want. Well, this $18 million opulent apartment in the York & Sawyer-designed 860 Park Avenue would beg to differ. Old world charm? Check. Modern conveniences? Check. Enough architectural details to make the biggest architecture nerd’s head spin? Check and check. This 4th floor unit is the supreme luxury abode, in one of the city’s premier white-glove co-ops, which is exactly what you would expect of a building designed by the same people responsible for the Federal Reserve Bank and the Bowery Savings Bank.
Take a look inside the remarkable co-op here
July 22, 2014

You Can Own This Energy-Efficient Beach House Designed by Bates Masi + Architects

If you've been following our site from the start, you know that we love the rustic-meets-modern works of Bates Masi + Architects. So you can imagine our excitement when we were told that this small but stunning retreat, just steps away from the ocean, is now up for sale. Simply named the 'Beach Hampton House', this structure situated on the shores of Amagansett is a study in geometry and space at just 600 square feet, and offers luxurious seaside living with a minimal footprint.
Learn more about the Beach Hampton house here
July 22, 2014

Explore Some of NYC’s Most Beautiful Buildings That Used to be Banks

Banking made this town, and the bank buildings of the 19th and early 20th centuries continue to house some of New York's most classic architecture and design. Greek, Roman, and even Byzantine Revival architectures were the style of choice for bank buildings, and those great stone pillars are still worth visiting today. Ahead are some of the most beautiful former bank buildings in New York City.
See these beautiful bank buildings here
July 22, 2014

Map Enthusiast Creates a More Geographically Correct Version of Vignelli’s Old Subway Map

For anyone in the world who's ridden the New York City subway, they've undoubtedly taken a curious gander at the system map, full of its rainbow-colored, crisscrossing lines. But what many riders may not know is that in 1972, a man named Massimo Vignelli was commissioned by the city to create a very different version of this map, immediately sparking controversy for its geometric simplicity and geographical inaccuracy. In 1979, Vignelli's map was replaced with a more organic, curving version like we see underground today. In 2008, the MTA commissioned Vignelli's firm to update their map, and a new version was put online to serve as the Weekender, highlighting weekend service changes. But now, underground map enthusiast Max Roberts has gone one step further, and claims he's come up with a perfect compromise between the Vignelli work and the MTA's signature map.
See what Mr. Roberts has come up with
July 21, 2014

Superdave’s Precious Slag Candlesticks Upcycle Pieces of Iron Found Scattered in the Forest

David Taylor, aka Superdave, is a Scottish-born, Stockholm-based designer who creates precious objects out of ordinary and found materials. His latest work, called Slag, consists of candlesticks made from assorted materials combined with pieces of iron found at the site of an abandoned 1600s iron foundry deep in the forests of Sweden.
Learn more about these precious candlesticks
July 21, 2014

LOT-EK Turns a Humble Shipping Container Into an Ultra Cool Penthouse with Empire State Views

We've seen Manhattanites do all kinds of crazy and creative things to maximize space—from turning their ovens into closets to lofting entire rooms—but the Guzman Penthouse by LOT-EK is one of our favorite transformations. To expand this penthouse residence, LOT-EK revamped an old mechanical room, added a 20-foot shipping container to serve as the master bedroom, and created a spacious rooftop patio, all of which sit on top of the building with jaw-dropping Empire State Building views.
You can't miss the rest of this one-of-a-kind home
July 20, 2014

The New York Architecture Day Trip: From Colonial to Deconstructivism in Manhattan

New York has a long history of great architecture. From the very beginnings in the colonial period to today, there are more great buildings to see in New York than anywhere else on the planet. Thankfully, with this guide, you can see them all in one simple south-north trip across Manhattan. Many great buildings are too tall or difficult to see up close, so we've chosen an example of each style of New York architecture that can also be appreciated from the ground level, rather than forcing you to gawk straight up at a skyscraper. Check out our New York architecture day trip.
Get your itinerary here
July 20, 2014

Bookworms Rejoice: Upper East Side Mansion Boasts Palatial, Double-Height Library

Most of us in Manhattan are lucky if we can find room to fit one, tiny bookshelf in our homes, so you can imagine our reactions when we saw the opulent, two-story library at 12 East 69th Street. Not only does it make us ashamed of our puny literature collections, but the room is at least three times the size of our apartments. The celestial ceiling mural, massive amount of black walnut built-in shelving, and custom spiral staircase are also making us green with envy.  Non bookworms, have no fear--this house has an equally regal, double-height media room, which comes complete with sound-proof walls, rich wood paneling, a 12-foot screen, and plush velvet seats.
You don't want to miss the rest of the palatial digs
July 20, 2014

1970s Orient House IV by Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects Employs Passive House Principles

Manhattan-based Ryall Porter Sheridan Architects recently renovated a 1970s house into a green escape that strictly follows Passive House standards. Located in Long Island just a few steps away from the sea, the minimal Orient House IV is completely clad in aged timber and features expansive north-facing windows that not only frame the beautiful views of its locale, but pulls in plenty of natural light. Designed to be more than just a vacation home, this stunning getaway is about as eco-friendly as it gets, and is said to be the second most energy-efficient structure on the island.
Learn more about the Orient House IV here
July 19, 2014

INTERVIEW: NYC Architect Drew Lang Gives Us the Scoop on Hudson Woods, A Private Eco-Community in the Catskills

Move over Hamptons — there's a new second-home hotbed for New Yorkers: the Catskills. The four-season destination has been growing in popularity over the past several years, but is now reaching new heights thanks to Drew Lang and Lang Architecture's forest getaway community Hudson Woods. Located in Kerhonkson, New York, just two hours from New York City, the 131-acre development will feature 26 sustainably designed, site-specific dwellings, each located on its own spacious lot. Buyers can personalize their homes with curated upgrades including a pool and pool house, outdoor kitchen, vegetable garden, fruit tree grove, treehouse, and solar power energy system, among other things. Hudson Woods' tagline is "where design meets nature," and one look at the site makes this statement ring true. We sat down with Drew Lang to get an inside take on the project, and to learn more about the increasingly sought after Catskills community.
Read our full interview here
July 18, 2014

Five Lush Rooftop Bars That Feel Like an Escape from the City

Summer is in full swing, and while some of us get to plan far flung escapes, others must endure the heat amidst the concrete towers. Rooftop oases are a great way to beat rising temps, especially when the foliage of a hidden garden can cool us naturally. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite lush rooftop havens around the city, all sure to help soothe your soul when a trip away from city life just isn’t in the cards. From an ultra verdant "secret garden" to a rooftop escape with the Empire State Building in view, check out these these five urban retreats offering an elevated experience.
Five wonderful lush rooftop escapes here
July 17, 2014

7 Cool Things You Probably Didn’t Know About the Bronx

The NY Yankees, Julia the Gorilla, and the Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden all call the Bronx home, but as the borough named for Jonas Bronck (and affectionately called the Boogie Down) commemorates a centennial anniversary in 2014, there is much more to celebrate than Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Zoo, and the New York Botanical Garden. We've hunted down seven cool things about the Bronx that we bet you didn't know. Read them all ahead, then venture northward to see them up close and personal.
Seven cool things about the Bronx
July 17, 2014

Corcoran Broker Susan Lamia Sells Off Her Charming West Village Townhouse for $10.75 Million

As the saying goes: If you want something done right, do it yourself. And that's exactly what Corcoran broker Susan Lamia did with her stunning Greek Revival townhouse at 54 Charles Street in the West Village. After just 21 days on the market, the property traded hands for $10.75 million, according to city records filed today. Susan and her husband originally purchased the home for $4.92 million nine years ago, turning a pretty nice profit on the recent sale. Though the buyer has yet to be disclosed, whoever they are, they've sure lucked out with their purchase. The spacious home not only sits along one of Manhattan's most picturesque streets, but also boasts many of the building's original, historic details.
See more of this lovely home here
July 16, 2014

Live Out Your Childhood Fantasies in This East Village Home with a Metal Slide by Turett Architects

It's not uncommon for NYC apartment buyers to snatch up two adjacent units and combine them into one space, but it is a bit unusual to request that your architect connect the spaces with a slide. And that's exactly what Turett Collaborative Architects (TCA) was tasked with in this East Village duplex penthouse. The previous homeowner, professional poker player Phil Galfond, bought two identical one-bedroom units, one on top of the other. They were transformed into a 2,400-square-foot, two-bedroom duplex with a new Italian-made Rintal stair. Clearly calling the bluff of this traditional mode of getting from one floor to another, Galfond worked with TCA to also install a stainless steel helical slide that descends through the double-height atrium.
More about the modern, playground-like feature right this way